Hi! I want to network 2 computers and don't have any idear what to do

[Heddi]

Okay. Here's whats I's gots:

I have an older desktop

New laptop

Laptop came with wireless router, which is hooked up via LAN cord to desktop so that I can get wireless internet to laptop. That works splendidly.

Here's what I want to do (in order of desirablity):

Send documents from laptop to printer, which is hooked up to desktop

--that's mainly what I want to do.

Once I accomplish that, I'd LIKE to be able to do the following things

Definitely access the desktop from the laptop (files and that)

and possibly, depending on what I need for the desktop:

Access the laptop from the desktop (files and such).

----

Okay--here's what I don't know:

I don't know a damn thing about networking :)

Obviously, my desktop (about 7 years old) has some kind of card that was installed when we got a cable modem, and that's how I can hook up the LAN from the dekstop to the router to get internet access

What do I need to do to send files from lappy to the printer without manually hooking up the laptop to the printer?

Both computers are running on WinXP, and both have networking capabilities, I just feel like I'm missing out on some really basic part of how to share more than just the internet connection between the two computers.

Can someone help me? And while I'm not a computer-retard, I'm not so up to speed on networking and stuff like that.

Thanks so much!

[democracyindanger]

1. Not an expert, but

here's my 'prosumer' (dontcha just love target market labels?) thoughts:

I think you need a print server in order to print a file from your laptop without a manual connection.

And the MS Networking Wizard is the simplest way to set up a network between your box and your laptop.

[Berserker]

2. This may help

http://www.homenethelp.com/network/ethernet.asp
http://ask-leo.com/can_i_network_two_computers_with_just_a_cable.html

[WLKjr]

3. Here is something from a Advanced User

Try sharing the printer on your desktop and you should be able to see in listed in My Network Neighborhood under your other computer's name. Then just go to add remove printers, and make a new printer connection, but choose the "network printer" option and you should see the other one listed somewhere.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

4. Make sure your files are shared. Click on My Computer,

then Right Click on the drive - click on Sharing and Security and take it from there. Do so to the devices you want too.

Make sure all your systems are in the same Workgroup.

Also have the network protocols installed on both systems:

Control Panel - Network Connections - Right click on the appropriate connections and click on Properties

On the General Tab click on Install. Install all the protocols. Then see what happens.

First get all the updates from Microsoft!!

On Edit:

When installing the protocols also install the Microsoft Client for Windows.